Sewing-machine



(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. H. CURRIBR. SEWING MAGHINE.

No. 580,849. Y Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

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WITNEEEEE FNVENTUR d W. H. CURRIER.`

No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. SEWING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

WITNEZ-:EEE

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Nirnen STATES Q 'PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM II. CURRIER, OF BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS.

lSEWING-MAGHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,849, dated April20, 1897.

Application led November 6, 1896. Serial No. 611,194. (No model.) i

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM Il. CURRIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at South Braintree, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSewing- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The present invention relates to lock-stitch sewing-machines, and moreparticularly to that class of lock-stitch machines embodying a circularneedle and reciprocating shuttle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and eectivemeans for holding the shuttle thread Within the path of movement of theneedle, When the shuttle is in its retracted position, to prevent atwist or knot in the lock as the stitch is formed; and to this end thepresent invention consists of the devices and combination of deviceshereinafter set forth and claimed.

The present invention is shown in the accompan ying drawings, in which-Figure l shows a portion of the head of a lock-stitch welt-machineembodying the invention. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail view of theshuttle box or race and portions of the mechanism for actuating theshuttle. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing a modified 4form of thepresent invention.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views. Referring to the drawings, A represents the back-rest; B,the looper; C, the needle; c, the needle-segment; D, the take-up; d, thetake-up lever; E, the thread finger or measurer; F, the thread-retainer,which retains the loop of needle-thread while-the shuttle is passingthrough the same, and G the loopspreader, which spreads the loop whileheld by the retainer for the passage of the shuttle, all of which parts,except as hereinafter noted, together with their actuating mechanism,may be of any usual or convenient construction and form no part of thepresent invention.

As shown in the drawings, the parts above referred to are substantiallysimilar in form and arrangement to corresponding parts of the machinenow known in the trade as the Goodyear lock-stitch welt-machine andembodying the invention of Christian Danccl.

The shuttle is shown at I-I and is arranged to reciprocate in theinclined shuttle box or race I, being actuated therein by suitablemechanism, which may be and conveniently is substantially similar tothat in said Goodyear machine.

In accordance with the present invention the shuttle-race I is providedwith a threadguide, which receives the shuttle-thread as the shuttle isretracted and supports the same Within the path of motion of theneedle-that is, Within the circle which would be formed by t-he rotationof the needle on its segment center.

The threadguide above referred to, as shown in Figs. l and 2, consistsof the angularly-bent rod or finger i, one end of which is secured tothe shuttle-race I upon one side of and adjacent to the rear of theshuttle and which extends vertically and laterally, (toward the front ofthe machine), and the forward end of which is secured to the frontportion of the shuttle-race. The position of the angularly-bent rod orfinger e' is such that as the shuttle falls it receives and retains theshuttle-thread and supports it within the path of motion of the needle.It will be noted that the laterally or forwardly extending portion ofthe rod or finger t is arranged at such an angle that the thread willnot slip oif of said finger.

As shown in Fig. 3, the thread-guide consists of a shoulder i2, formedupon the shuttle box or race I, the upper edge ofthe shoulder i2 beingarranged to receive and support the thread substantially in .the mannerin which the same is supported up on the angular rod or finger t', ashereinbefore described.

The operation of the machine of the drawings, in so far as the same ismaterial to the present invention, is described as follows: The shuttlebeing in its retracted position, and the thread being held by thethreadguide within the path of motion of the needle, the needle draws upa loop of thread outside of the shuttle-thread or, as shown in thedrawings, under said thread, which loop is taken from the needle by thethread-retainer, and while the loop is still closed the shuttle movesvIo upward from its retracted position to a position above theloop,passing outside of the loop.

The loop is then opened by the spreader, and

the shuttle returns to its retracted position, L

passing through the loop and carrying its thread through the same, afterwhich the stitch is set in the usual manner.

It will be noted in connection with the foregoing that if theshuttle-thread is allowed to fall outside of the path of motion of theneedle before the needle brings up the loop the lock-stitch will beformed with a twist in the shuttle-thread or supply-thread, which willprevent said threads from properly rendering about each other toposition the lock in the material; but as provided with my improvedthread-guide the shuttle-thread is always held within the path of motionof the needle while the loop is being brought up, so that thelock-stitch is formed without any twist either in the shuttle-thread orthe supply-thread, a result which enables the loop to be accuratelypositioned in the material.

I would say that I am aware that it is not novel to form a lock-stitchwithout a twist in the shuttle-thread or supply-thread, but in so far asI am informed of the state of the art it is novel in a machine embodyinga reciprocating shuttle and a circular needle to secure such result bysupporting a shuttlethread within the path of motion of the needle.

I therefore claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited Statesl. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combinal'tion with areciprocating shuttle and a circular needle movable in substantiallyparallel planes, of means for actuating the shuttle and needle, and athread-guide arranged to support the shuttle-thread within the path ofmotion of the needle while the shuttle is in its retracted position,substantially as described.

2. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination with a reciprocatingshuttle, of a circular needle and its actuating mechanism, and ashuttle-race provided with a threadguide arranged to support theshuttle-thread within the path of motion of the needle while the shuttleis in its retracted position, substantially asV described.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM H. CURRIER.

Witnesses:

A. E. IVHYTE, A. O. ORNE.

